"To understand the roll-out, you have to understand the beam structure on Viasat 2. There are 2 types of beams. There's one large beam that covers the entire US as well as parts of South America and the Atlantic towards Europe. On top of the large beam are smaller micro beams. I don't know the exact number but I've been told over 70 or so. Customers within the micro beams will have access to plans with speeds up to 100Mbps. Customers that fall into the large beam will have speeds up to 30Mbps.

It was always Viasat's intention to do a phased roll-out starting with the micro beams. Once all micro beams were lit up, they'd do a nationwide roll-out with the large beam. It's my opinion that the antenna issue has affected more micro beams than they're letting on, causing them to redefine boundaries to determine who can or can't get 100Mbps speeds. So far to date they've lit up about 60 micro beams.

This is all information that has trickled down to me as an installer for a retailer east of the Mississippi. The above info is by no means anything official from Viasat, just what I've heard, and my opinion based on what I've heard. I've yet to install on Viasat 2, our normal coverage area will be in the Large beam.

All will require new equipment. If you're in the Large beam you'll have 12/25/30Mbps plans...if you're a small beam you'll have 12/25/50/100Mbps plans."

I was informed that some small beams may launch initially with up to 50Mbps with 100Mbps to follow later. It's very possible that the antenna issue may dictate which small beams get 100Mbps. I'm also east coast so that may make a difference as well. I think we do have one member that's posted they signed up for the 100Mbps plan and only small beams have been lit up so far so we know at least one small beam is capable.

As stated about there are two types of beams. The smaller "spot" beams can do more. How the antenna issue is impacting things is just speculation at this point. The bottom line is it appears Viasat-2 is not going to reach its intended potential due to the failures that have occurred. And that is a loss to both Viasat and us customers who have been waiting for more.

I been with this company for about 15 years rather it was with wildblue,exede and now viasat.The truth of the matter is neither one have ever lived up to there hip.They get you locked in,and it does not matter to them if you use the service or not they are getting paid for at least 2 years.

If you don't like Viasat you are going to hate Hughesnet. While you might get a little better speed on Hughesnet right now (because of all the apparent rollout issues of Viasat-2 which appears confusing at best) you get less priority data.

Of course, old news, consumers ain't got the bucks to buy stuff..."free cellphones," really. Free DirecTV, Free Dish....bull...higher monthly payments to pay for dish/installer. Cellphones sales took off with that Free Cellphone pitch, but back then, coverage maps were not that good...lots of dead spots...what a rip, hey?

New car, sign here...your bank just locked you in for X number of years...and if GMC financing, hey, they really have you "locked in," with their product.

That phrase really sucks, in the larger picture. Tray to walk away from a new car sale...

Oh you are locked in if satellite is the only choice a person has if they have to have internet service and yes once you sign up the first time you are locked in for 2 years of payments to the company.﻿